Module system



June 29,11 965 Y w. n. EVANS E'rAl. 3,192,445

' A' ."nomm SYSTEM Filed llarchl. 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 859 LE AMP. DETECTOR 12 Amm@ NPAumo AME R F. CONVERTER June 29, 1965 w. R. EVANS ETAL l 3,192,445

MODULE SYSTEM Filed March 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent() 3,192,445 MODULE SYSTEM William R. Evans, Hershey, and Robert C. Swengel,

Hellam, Pa., assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,439 Claims. (Cl. 317-101) This invention relates to a modular system for electronic circuitry, and more particularly to a system wherein the module blocks are pluggable elements iu a Wiring framework which strings the blocks in series.

In the deployment of the electrical components of an electrical system, according to the functional circuits or subcircuits desired to be separated in the individual module block packages, the required intermodule connections may be treated in many cases primarily as a series circuit problem. That is, most electronic circuits can be broken down so that with few exceptions, such as perhaps an AGC line, and the like, the connecting lines need extend only between adjacent module blocks.

For such circuits, however, the typical proposal for a modular array presents, after the fashion of a vacuum tube, cubic units having pins at one end for plugging into s-ocket devices on a chassis plate .that carries the intermodule wiring, which fails to appreciate the usual series nature of the circuitry involved. The amount of wiring,

if not hand-wired, is thus limited to what can be accommodated by the plane surfaces of the chassis; and often, to conserve lineage on the chassis, the module blocks must grow beyond what can constitute an inexpensive throw-away part in a conveniently maintained, substitution-serviced arrangement.

According to the present invention, therefore, it is a principal object to provide modularizing hardware of a design to take advantage of the usual series nature of electronic ycircuitry in adapting a wide range of electronic gear to a standard modular system, A subsidiary object is to provide that the hardware parts be limited in number, rugged, and inexpensive, yet simple to Vassemble in adaptation to the conditions set by the particular circuit involved.

Another object is to provide a modular assembly, Wherein cubic module blocks are strung together in series, yet which can accommodate such parallel and feedback lines as may be required. Y

Another object is to provide a modular assembly having series strung module blocks of a form especially adapting the electronic circuit involved for easy maintenance by substitution servicing.

These objects are, in general, attained by providing a modular assembly composed of a string of cubic module blocks each in the form of a double-sided plug laterally removable from the string. On each of the two opposite sides of the plug is arranged a row of elongated and regularly spaced blade-receiving sockets oriented transversely relative to the length of the module block string. Between adjacent blocks is disposed a row of blades, the edge portions of each blade being received in and electrically connecting a pair of sockets, the socket pair including a socket of each of the adjacent module blocks. Each blade includes an auxiliary connectorA device by which input and output circuit lines are connected to the module block string, as well as providing access to each series junction for parallel and feedback circuit lines where needed.

Other objects andrattainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled'in the ait upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the p ICC invention; it is to be understood, however, that this ernbodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor lirnting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic illustration of the modularization of an electronic circuit, schematically shown, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the general form of the modular array of FIGURE l, with certain module blocks being in section and partially inserted for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of an enlarged scale of a socket contact used in construction of the module blocks;

FlGURE 4 is a perspective view of the socket contact of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially exploded, on an enlarged scale of the intermodule connector block assembly; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6--6 l of FIGURE 5.

subdivisions form no part of this invention; however, for

purposes of discussion, the receiver circuit has been broken down according to the main functional stages of such circuits. Stages 1 to 6 are thus respectively a converter, two stages of IRF amplification, a detector, and two stages of audio amplification, which correspond, in general, to the developmental type micromodule circuits described in the Radio Corporation of America bulletins, Nos. DM0030, DMGOSl, DM0032, DM0033, DM00'34 and DMOOSSA. External oscillator and antenna tuning circuits, generally indicated at 8, are connected to the input end of the receiver string, and at the output end signals are fed into speaker transformer 10'. Circuit portions 3 and 10 may be suitably supported on a chassis or baseplate 12 along with power supply battery 14 and on/ofl switch 16, all according to practices well-known to the skilled in the art.

With reference also to FIGURE 2, the modularized assembly is composed of a string of module blocks mey chanically frictionally retained and electrically connected in series by an appropriate number of spaced connector blocks 1S carried by base plate 12.

To enable the module blocks to serve as easily replaceable series connectable devices, as well as other functions and advantages to become apparent, each block of the illustrative embodiment comprises a hexahedral hollow box or cubic receptacle 2@ of electrically insulating material open at the top to provide a cavity 22 in which the parametric components of an electrical circuit or subcircuit are contained. Preferably box 20 has an integral bottom so that it can act as its own mold where it is desired to have a completely encapsulated and hermetically sealed unit, the pottoing compound, such as a suitable epoxy-type resin, simply being poured into the box after the components have been positioned with their leads 24 electrically attached to the module contacts 26 which are engageable with mating contacts 28 of connector .blocks 118.

The module contacts of the connector assembly, advantageously to achieve a rugged, reliable and Wholly protected sliding Contact arrangement, includes a series of elongated, metallic channel-shaped Contact elements, or sockets 26, FIGURES 3 and 4, snugly received in a gener- Y ally correspondingly shaped series of channels 30 in two opposite sides of box 2). The series of channels 3@ are regularly spaced and extend, in parallel, the height of box 2i). Further, the channels are Ueshaped in cross-section of preferably constant dimensions regardless of length, width or height of the various sizes of boxes contemplated to be used in accommodating the various electrical components of the electronic system involved. The thus mutually parallel array of channels 30 correspondingly accommodate and position, in like array, the series of sockets or contacts 26, each having an elongated channel-shaped body portion 32, the upstanding sidewalls of which are to pro-` vide the exterior contact surfaces of the module unit. In height, the sidewalls are slightly less than the depth of channels 39 whereby the contacts advantageously wholly recess in the channels. Preferably, the opposed sidewalls of each contact present parallel surfaces, as best shown in FIGURE 3, and effectively comprise a metallic lining for the parallel sidewalls of the module channels 30.

To anchor and accurately locate the position of contacts 26 in channels 30, there extends from one end of body portion 32 an anchoring tab 34 having a pair of laterally extending ears engageable behind the lateral shoulders, relative to the axis of the channels, provided by a V-shaped groove 36 extending along a line in the bottom of the module box intersecting a row of channels 30 adjacent their base. Extending longitudinally from the other end of body portion 32, to an extent so as to project upwardly out of channel 30, is a solder or welding tab 38 to which the terminal leads of the parametric components of the module are to be attached. Tabs 38 have a length sufficient to be bendable around the upper edge of the box and into cavity 22 whereby, on potting, the soldered or welded connections to tabs 38 may also be covered. In order that the contacts remain in position in channels 30 prior to final assembly of the module, the sidewalls of body portion 32 preferably are spread slightly in excess of the width of channels 30 to afford a slight frictional grip therebetween upon pressing the contacts into place.

As thus designed, the form and construction of the modular units 1 to 6 are seen to be essentially a doublesided plug. Further, it is extremely rugged, being a unitary block-like configuration with no protruding fragile parts, simple to assemble from parts that are easily fabricated. The receptacle boxes may be made by any standard machining, casting or molding techniques from any of a wide range of insulating materials, whereas the Contact elements are susceptible to fabrication by die stamping techniques from very thin gauge strip metal stock.

Connector blocks 18, as shown in detail in FIGURES 5 and 6, each include a row of generally flat blades 28, conveniently stamped out of sheet metal stock, disposed in a side-by-side parallel array so that either of the two side edges 39, 40 of each blade is positioned relatively to slide endwise in a mating channel contact 26 on insertion of a module plug in the string. In the illustrative form, blades 28 are mounted in an elongated insulating support 42, preferably of nylon or other suitable moldable material, which is generally of an inverted T shape in cross-section. A series of regularly spaced slots 44 extend all the way through stem 46 and through the intermediate section of cross-bar 48 of the T for slidably receiving a row of blades 28. Apertures 50, extending lengthwise through stem 46 on slots 44 as center lines, each serve to guide and align a blade 28 by cooperative reception of a central, longitudinal bead 52 which also stifens the blade.

The width of blades 28 exceeds the width of stem 46 by at least a 2:1 ratio so that side edges 39, 40 protrude from opposite sides of the block 42 for engagement by module contacts 26.

Conveniently, blades 28 are snap-fit in place. To this through side edges 39 and 4t) to define two pairs of opposed legs 53 and 6d. Leg Sis longer and curved out of the general plane of blade 28 to provide a locking spring, while the end of leg 6d is bent over at a right angle to provide a stop shoulder spaced from the end of leg 58 slightly greater than the width of cross-bar 48. During insertion of blade 2S through slot 44, spring leg 58 is cammed back into the plane of blade 28. When fully inserted, however, spring legs 5d are released to'engage one side of crossbar 4,8 as legs are brought into engagement with the other side of the cross-bar.

The connector block assemblies 18 are supported in a spaced, side-by-side array preferably through being mounted on a chassis plate 12. Any convenient means for so mounting the blocks will suiice, which, as shown, comprises a pair of opposed, longitudinal rails 62 depending from the side of cross-bar 48 opposite stem 46 and having an outside spacing to t snugly within an elongated slot 64 in plate 12 and an inside spacing to pass blades 28 freely. The rails 62 are inset from the extremities of cross-bar 48 which thus act as shoulders to stop block 42 on one side of plate 12. A U-shaped spring fastener 66 having legs 68 arranged to ride in grooves 70 in the outside sidewalls of rails 62 serves as opposing stop shoulders to crossbar 48 by engaging the underside of plate 12 as best shown in FIGURE 6. Grooves '70 are positioned to straddle the plane of the bottom surface of plate 12 when block 42 is fitted in place, the legs 6? of spring fastener 66 being approximately twice as wide as grooves '70 are deep, and sinuous with nodal offsets of a greater dimension when relaxed than the distance between the bottom of plate 12 and the lower sidewall of groove 79. Spring fastener 66 locks block 42 in place with spring pressure as the sinuous legs 63 are compressed when slid into position as shown in FIGURE 6.

Rails 62 preferably are molded integrally with block 42 and serve to join the T shaped segments of the block body in a unitary structure.

An auxiliary connective element, such as tab 72 integrally extending from the base 56 of blade 28 and cooperable with a variety of spring clips known in the art to cornplete an electrical connection, provides the means for external access to each junction formed by a blade 2S and contact 26. Through such access points, input and output devices, including tuner 8 and speaker transformer 10, may be connected to the module string. Additionally, such parallel or feedback lines, of which AGC line 74 running between detector 4 and IF amplifier 2 is typical, might otherwise be wired in when contact space on the module blocks is unavailable.

The side faces of connector blocks 18 are spaced slightly more than the length of the module blocks along the string so that, on insertion, the series of contact elements 26 on the module unit areitelescoped respectively over a corresponding number of blades 28, the upper ends of the blade sides 39 or 40 entering between the substantially more widely spaced sidewalls of body portion 32 and moving relatively centrally therealong until the module unit is fully seated adjacent chassis plate 12. As each blade side edge relatively enters and moves between the sidewalls of a body portion 32, there is brought into play a series of resilient and independently acting spring elements providing a multiplicity of contact areas between the sides of the blade and the sidewalls of body portion 32 along their lengths.

For best protection and manufacturing simplicity, the spring device for developing the multi-point spring contact pressure preferably integrally depends from contacts 26. In FIGURES 3 and 4, the base of the U-shaped body portion 32 has thus been blanked out, as at slot openings 76, at a plurality of points along its length so as to leave in the sidewalls only opposed pairs of bridging straps 78 which are bowed with a smooth continuous curvature inwardly towards each other to a spacing at least less than the thickness of blade 28, thus to define spring contact suspensions. As explained above, the main portion of the sidewalls of body portion 32 normally reside in contact with the sidewalls of channel 3(1), thus it will be appreciated that as blade 28 is telescoped within body portion 32, the opposed pairs of spring bridging straps will be cammed apart and each will be partially ilattened against the sidewalls ofchannel 30, resulting in a slight elongation of contact 26. The characterof spring system and the resultant spring contact pressurebetween the blade 28 and contact 26 depends, in part, upon the length of spring straps 78 which, to avoid any resonant condition under vibration, preferably are curved from pair-to-pair about different radii of curvature as indicated in FIGURE 3.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that electronic circuits, especially those formed primarily by series connected stages or functions, easily are divisible into modular units for plugging assembly in an array serviced simply by a process of substitution. Further, the arrangement economically admits of building the modular units as throw-away elements with the separation of components prone to failure from more expensive and lasting network portions. It is contemplated, of course, that the modularizing hardware varies consonant with the physical size, density and number of terminal junctions of the incorporated circuit components although the regular spacing of contacts 26 and 28 preferably remains the same. Thus, the width of receptacle 20 may increase to increase the number of contacts 26 of the module unit, while block 42 is adapted to molding in long lengths and sectioned according to the conditions of a particular circuit application.

In addition, it is not a condition of the assembly that the size of the module blocks or connector blocks in a given string be the same or correspond to each other. That is, considering one given side only of a connector block 18 in terms of the number of contacts 28, depending on circuit conditions the size of the module block in terms of contacts 26 along the length of the connector block side may be greater or lesser, or even made up of plural module blocks. It will be understood that one set of connector blocks 18 can accommodate plural side-byside strings of module blocks, especially where the module blocks in the separate strings are of equal size because the contacts 28 are insulated from each other and from chassis plate 12 wihch may either be metal or insulating material as desired. The possibilities for other block arrangements are numerous because of the flexibility of relation between the module blocks and the connectorY blocks which will be apparent to the skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An electrical circuit assembly comprising a string of circuit module blocks, opposed rows of regularly spaced contacts on the opposed sides of adjacent module blocks terminating the parametric components of said blocks, a chassis plate, a series of elongated connector blocks detachably mounted side-by-side on said plate snugly receiving a module block laterally between each adjacent pair thereof, each connector block having a series of regularly spaced contacts each slidably engaging and electrically connecting a pair of opposed contacts of said opposed rows upon laterally sliding the module blocks between the pairs of adjacent connector blocks, said blocks carrying the contacts thereof in spaced relation relative to said chassis plate.

2. An electrical circuit assembly comprising a string of circuit module blocks, opposed rows of regularly spaced blade-receiving connector sockets on the opposed sides of adjacent blocks, a chassis plate, a series of connector blocks, spring means for fastening said connector blocks to said plate in spaced side-by-side relation for receiving the module block string, each connector block carrying a row of sheet metal blades spaced in accordance with said sockets, each blade in the row having a portion received in and electrically connecting a pair of opposed sockets of said opposed rows.

' 3:.V An electrical circuit assemblycornprising a string of circuit module blocks, opposed rows of regularly spaced blade-receiving connector sockets on the opposed sides of adjacent blocks, a row or similarly spaced elongated sheet metal blades supported between said opposed sides and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said string, said sockets being telescopically interengaged with said blades along a transverse connecting axis relative to said longitudinal axis with each blade'in a row having a portion slidably received in and electrically connecting a pair of said sockets, said pair including one socket from each of said opposedrows.

4. A11 electrical circuit assembly according to claim 3 wherin said sockets each having a blade-receiving entrance facing along said connecting axis and an open side facing along said longitudinal axis, and said row of blades being supported by insulating frame means with each blade having its opposite side edges projecting from opposite sides of said frame means into the open sides of said pair of sockets. Y ,l

5. An electrical circuit assembly according to claim 4 wherein at least one of said blades includes an integral connective element projecting laterally from said string to provide external wiring access to the pair of sockets connected by said one blade.

6. A connector for coupling double-sided cubic module blocks in series comprising an elongated insulating block of generally a T-shape in cross-section, a series of regularly spaced slots in said block traversing the stem of the T-shaped block and at least the intermediate portion of the cross-bar of the T-shape, a series of contact blades received in said slots respectively, each blade having a main body portion substantially coextensive in length with but wider than said stem and a snap-fit retainermeans engaging opposite sides of the cross-bar.

7. A connector for coupling double-sided cubic module blocks in series comprising an elongated insulating block of generally a T-shape in cross-section, a series of regularly spaced slots in said block traversing the stem of the '1T-shaped block and at least the intermediate portion of the cross-bar of the T-shape, groove means extending longitudinally of said stem in the block sidewalls dened by said slots, a series of Contact blades received in said slots respectively, each blade having a main body portion substantially coextensive in length with but wider than said stem and retainer means engaging opposite sides of the cross-bar, and a central bead in said body portion cooperable with said groove means for alignment of the blades in the insulating block.

8. A connector for coupling double-sided cubic module blocks in series comprising an elongated insulating block of generally a T-shape in cross-section, a series of regularly spaced slots in said block traversing the stem of the T-shaped block and at least the intermediate portion of the cross-bar of the T-shape, a series of contact blades received in said slots respectively, each blade having a main body portion substantially coextensive in length with but wider than said stem and a snap-fit retainer means engaging opposite sides of the cross-bar, and means integrally depending from and cooperable with said cross-bar for mounting the block in an aperture of a chassis plate.

9. A connector for coupling double-sided cubic module blocks in `series comprising an elongated insulating block of generally a T-shape in cross-section, a series of regularly spaced slots in said block traversing the stem of the T-shaped block and at least the intermediate portion of the cross-bar of the T-shape, a series of contact blades received in said slots respectively, each blade having a main body portion substantially coextensive in length with but wider than said stem and a snap-fit retainer means engaging opposite sides of the cross-bar, and an electrical connective element integral with said body portion extending laterally from said insulating block from the side of said cross-bar opposite the stem.

10. An electrical circuit assembly comprising a string of circuit module blocks, opposed rows` of regularly spaced contacts on the opposed sides of adjacent module blocks for terminating the parametric components of said blocks, a chassis, a series of elongated connector blocks including fastener means mounting and locking the blocks in sideby-side spaced relation on said chassis snugly receiving a module blockhetween each adjacent pair thereof, each connector block having a series of regularly spaced contacts each engaging and electrically connecting a pair of opposed contacts of said opposed rows, each contact pair of a module block contact and a mating connector block contact including elongated, mating parts engageable in a frictional slide-lit and disposed laterally of saidistring for electrically and mechanically mounting the module blocks in said string in laterally removable frictional engagement.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,617 12/32 Lamy 339-217 t3 Linde 339-258 David 339-65 Schultz 339-198 Kamm 339-174 Scal 317-101 Lynn 317-101 Flanagan et a1. 339-198 Blain 339-17 Ewald 317-101 Simons 317-101 Great Britain.

Examiners. 

1. AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A STRING OF CIRCUIT MODULE BLOCKS, OPPOSED ROWS OF REGULARLY SPACED CONTACTS ON THE OPPOSED SIDES OF ADJACENT MODULE BLOCKS TERMINATING THE PARAMETRIC COMPONENTS OF SAID BLOCKS, A CHASSIS PLATE, A SERIES OF ELONGATED CONNECTOR BLOCKS DETACHABLY MOUNTED SIDE-BY-SIDE ON SAID PLATE SNUGLY RECEIVING A MODULE BLOCK LATERALLY BETWEEN EACH ADJACENT PAIR THEREOF, EACH CONNECTOR BLOCK HAVING A SERIES OF REGULARLY SPACED CONTACTS EACH SLIDABLY ENGAGING AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CONTACTS OF SAID OPPOSED ROWS UPON LATERALLY SLIDING THE MODULE BLOCKS BETWEEN THE PAIRS OF ADJACENT CONNECTOR BLOCKS, SAID BLOCKS CARRYING THE CONTACTS THEREOF IN SPACED RELATION RELATIVE TO SAID CHASSIS PLATE. 